Vehicle-body.



F. G. DAVIS.

VEHICLE BODY.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 13, 1915 H v v 1,229,589. Patented June 12, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

f, G. DAVIS.

VEHICLE BODY.

APPLICATION FILED 001.13. 1915.

F. G. DAVIS.

VEHICLE BODY,

; APPLICATION FILED OCT I3| I9l5- 1,229,589. Patented J [H16 12, 1917.

Y 3 SHEETS-SHEEI a.

)h'r 6 Es: I vEl YTal? capable oi being carried inthe box,

'Jellerson, in the .State of New Vehicle-Bodies, of which the UNITED STATE FRANCIS G. DAVIS, OF WATERTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIG'NOR TO H. H. BABCOCK COM- PANY, OF WATEBTOWN,

NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VEHICLEBODY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'June 12, 1917.

Application filed October 13, 1915. Serial No. 55,631.

To all iii/mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, Farmers G. Davis, a citizen of the United States oi? America, and resident or atex-town, in the county of York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in following, taken in connection with the aceon'niianying drawings, a full, clear, and exact descrip tiou.

This. invention relates to certain improvements in vehi(,=.le bodies adapted to be used more particularly for motor delivery trucks and sin'iilar vehicles.

The main object is to prm'ide a cm'nparatively light, strong. and durable knock-down vehicle body which is made in separate units comprising a platlmin, Sfipi'il'llltl side and end pieces constituting a box and a suitable top ci-irried. by separate uprights rising from the siile pieces so that the vel'licle may he used with the platform independently of the sidis and top tor carrying special loads not or the box inay be used with or without the top as may be desired with the assurance that the ilulividinll or assei nbled units will perform their respective tunrtions with a maximum degree of security.

Another object to provide simple means for easily and quickly conin rig the units in such manner as to produce a maximum degree of firmness, strength and durability, thereby reducing the, liability of wear and rattle incidental. thereto. 4

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the body will be brought outin the following descri 'ition.

In the drawings-- 'Figure l is a perspective view of a motor truck embodying the various features of my invention.

ljig. is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the same body, taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1, except that the central. por tion of the uprights for supporting the top are broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enli'irgeld longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line i -3, Fig. 1.

F i g. lie a horizontal sectional View, partly broken away, taken in the plane of line M, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is detail perspectiveyiew ofthe upper portion of one oflhe uprights for sup; porting the top.

vertical rigidly secured to the cross bars Fig. 6 is a top plan, partly in section, of a portion of the box, showing the transverse partitions which brace the sides and constitute at the same time a compartment for the "fuel tank and a support for the seat.

Fig. 7 a detail horizontal sectional .view, partly broken away, taken inthe plane of line 7---7, Fig. 3, showing a portion of the panel and. manner ofsecuring the sameto the uprights.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the deta-ched panel.

As illustrated, this motor vehicle body comprises a platform --1- and separate side and end pieces 2- 2 and -3- and --3 constitutingthe box, a plurality of, in this instance four, uprights rising from the sides -2- and a top 5 mounted upon the upper ends of the uprights.

The platform .-1 is made up as a unit s PATENT oEEIoE.

to be used independently of the box-and.

other parts carried thereby and comprises a pair of parallel lengthwise sills -6- arranged in substantially spaced relation and rigidly held in such relation by superposed end and intermediate cross bars 7'? and -8', the and bars -7- being somewhat thicker vertically than the intermediate bars land rabbeted at 9 along their inner upper corners for receving the adjacent ends of. a floor -l0. having its intermediate portions resting upon the upper faces of the cross bars --S-. These cross bars 7-- and -8- are arranged in substantially spaced relation lengthwise of and upon the 'upper edges of the sills -6 and together with the floor 10 are secured to said sills by bolts 11-- which are passed through registering apertures in the adjacent portions of the sills, cross bars andfloor, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. 1

The floor 10- preferably consists of a series oflengthwise parallel strips ozfi W003 -8- by screws 12 or equivalent fastening means and having their, adjacent edges spaced a slight distance apart and also firmly clamped to the cross bans by'lengthwise metal strips -1 3'-{which cover the joints between tl1e edges of the flooring strips'iind are secured to the cross bars by screws 1. These metal strips 13- extend /length-' wise of the floor between the ends --3 and 3'' and serve as wear plates to relieve the upper surface of the wood floor boards from excessive wear by-objects which are moved across and upon the floor.

The sills -6 are extended forwardly some distance beyond the front end pieces.

. an angle-iron or metal wear plate 17 to prevent undue wear of this edge of the board by the driver and others passing to and from the seat of the vehicle.

The intermediate cross bars 8- are reinforced along their lower rear corners by the metal angle-irons or plates -*18 which are secured to the cross bars -8- by screws 18 and extend from end. to end of their respective bars, the object of said reinforcing plates being to stiffen the cross bars against sagging under load,'and also to form metal bearings adapted to be engaged. by other metal hearings on the side pieces --2- for establishing a firmer. connection with said side pieces when they are assembled i a manner hereinafter described.

It is to be understood, however, that the platform per 86 may be used independently of any of the other parts of the body as a practical means for supporting loads which cannot be conveniently carried in a box.

Each of the side pieces 2-- is also made up as a unit to be applied when desired to the platform and comprises an upright piece -19 and a wing-20, both preferably made of wood of suitable Width and of substantially the same length, the wing -20- inclining upwardly and outwardly from the upper edge of the board -19 and rigidly secured thereto by metal braces --21 presently described.

The lower edge of each of the side boards 19- is reinforced by a metal-angle plate -22 having one of its sides secured to the outer face thereof by screws or rivets -23- and its other side extended under and inwardly some distance beyond its inner face so as to underlie and engage the adjacent end of the metal reinforcing plate 18 of the platform when the side pieces are placed in operative relation to said platform to form the box,,as shown in Fig. 2.

When these side pieces are placed in operative Dosition to form the box, their lower edges abut against the adjacent outer edges of the platform and extend lengthwise thereof between the end pieces -3 and 3--, in which positionthe inwardly projecting flanges of the angle plates serve to tensions 25- secured fiatwise by bolts -26 against the inner face of said side boards and terminating in inwardly prose I jecting flanges 27, which, when the sides and platform are assembled to form the box,

I are secured fiatwise to the upper faces of the adjacent edges of the platform by the same bolts -2 1- which secure the plates --22- to the under side of the same edges of the platform, thereby firmly securing the adjacent longitudinal edges of the platform between the flanges -27 and plates 22 The intermediate portions of the brackets 21-- are offset laterally and outwardly at -2S across and. upon the upper edges of the side boards 19,'or rather between the adjacent edges of said side boards and wings -20, the brackets being then ex tended upwardly across and against the outer faces of said wings and secured thereto by bolts -29, while the outer ends of the brackets are overturned downwardly and are secured to the side boards -l9- by one of the bolts -2(' at each side.

Additional reinforcing plates 30 and 31 are secured to the outer sides of the I side boards 19 by the same fastening bolts 26, the plates 30' lying next adjacent the boards -19 between the oilset -28- of the bracket 21- and upper edge of the inner plate 22-,while the reinforcing plates 31 are secured to the outer faces of the plates -30 and --2-2.

The plates -31 nearest the rear endplate 33 and riveted thereto, while their I upper ends are riveted in the upright portions of the plate 31-, as shown in Fig. 2.

These lateral extensions 3.2 and reinforcing plates 33, together with the arched braces 34, are important in a structure of this character in that they serve to hold the rear ends of the sides firmly in place against springing outwardly, partioularly when the rear end board is down or detached.

The braces -21 connected in the manner described are also important in establishing a rigid connection between the Wings and side boards -19--, which permits the super-structure to be mounted directly upon the wings Without liability of springing or displacing such wings.

The rear end hoard -3- is of substazr tially the same height and width as the box proper exclusive of the sills so as to abut against the rear face of the cross bar -7- and rear end faces of the sides '-1 9-, and

3 preferably consists of a board having metal iii) thereof by bolts -43 Wear plates or hands -'--I lo---"- sewn-ed to its upper longitudinal edge and also to its end ed es, said end board being additionally re in orced by tra averse metal plates ---36-- secured to its rear face and wnstituting hinge straps Which are pivotally conne ted by pintles -S7-- to similar hinge straps -38, the latter being secured. to the wider sideof the rear cross bar -T---, as shown in Fig. 3.

The rear end or gate -3 held in its closed position by hooks which are pivoted to said end piece and are movable into and out of engagement with a pertured bolt-s -*i0-, the latter being secured to the inner faces of the sides -19 so as toproject rearwardly through apertures in the end piece ani constitute portions of the side pieces, a

The upright posts ----2lfor siun'iorting the top --5- are of similar construction and rise from the upper edges of the Wings -20- at the four corners of the box proper, each post being preferably made of wood and having its lower portion reinforced by metal plates -41- an'd -4:2- secured, re v spectively, to the inner and outer faces and having their lower ends-extended downwardl some dis tance beyond the lower of the wood portions and inclined doiviiiwanlly and inwardly at the same angle-as the adjacent Wing ,20 and in spaced relation to re ceive said Wing, so that when the posts are assembled upon their respective wings, the extensions may be secured to the inner and outer faces thereof by bolts The transverse tl-iickness of the posts is slightly greater than that of the wings to which theyiare adapted to be secured, and

in order that they may be properly alined "w th the upper edges of the wings, the in- "with against the inner faces of the adjacent porner sides of their lower ends are provided beveled extensions fitting tions of said Wings, While the outer portions of the same ends are formed with horizontal' shoulders 46- adapted to rest upon the upper edges of the Wings, the beveled extensions -4-5- serving to aid the in wa-rdly inclined extensions of the metal reinfer-cements -4:1- and -il in firmly holding the posts in an upright position and in fixed relation to the sides *2---.

The outer portions of the upper ends of the posts .'l" are rabliieted at -47- to receive the lengthwise rails oi the top -5-,

hereinafter described, thus forming tongues --'l8 of reduced thickness adapted to enter sockets in the under side of said top, the inner faces of the upper ends of said posts being reinforced by metal plates --i9--se cured thereto by screws -50--- and havin 7 so their upper ends provided with aperturec ollsets -5l and -52-- which are disposed at substantially right angles to each other for sceurei'uent to the inner faces of the sid front and rear rails of the top by bolts at opposite sides of the corresponding tiiingues l-S.

The top -l--- is oil suliicienl' lenpjth and width to cover the entire platform and therefore, overhangs the box and seat as Well as the-extcl'ision 53- of the platforun and comprises a ceiling -5-lwhich is slightly arched hmgitudinally and transversely to shed Water therefrom and is pref erably covered by a layer --55-- of water.

proof material, said ceiling being rigidly secured to a suitable framework, COliSlStinf, in this instance, of opposite lengthwise side rails --5G-, front and rearend rails 57- and -l$S- and an intermediate rail 5 together with a 'llurality of cross ribs or bows -i")0--- all of said framework, ceiling and top being rigidly secured together to form a unitary structure.

The side rails 5(l-- are providedwith vertical cleats (ll. rigidly secured. to the inner faces thereof relatively short distances inwardly from the end and intermediate cross rails and- -59 to form sockets -62 of substantially the same extend across said sockets and when secured to the inner faces of the cleats by bolts -53, will firmly hold the top against lateral movement relatively to the posts, the jlmctions of the rear end and interme diate rails 58- and --59- with the side rails of the'top being additionally stiffened by the securement of the angular offsets --5land --52 thereto.

The forwardly projecting portion of the top may be additionally supported hv braces operative position with the tongues 115 63 connecting said extensions with the front .posts .4 in the manner shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 3.

The lower edges of the side rails 56- between the front and rear posts 4.- are substantially parallel with the upper edges of the wings 20, while the upright edges of the front and rear posts at each side of the body are'also parallel and disposed at substantially right angles to the lower edges .of the side rails of the top, thus producing a rectangular opening, in which may be fitted a panel 65, preferably of metal, having side and end flanges 6G- and 67 parallel with and a short distance fromthe edges thereof so as to fit snugly in the side openings between the posts and also between the side rails 5tl and wings -20, said flanges being provided with apertures 68* for receiving suitable fastening means, as screws (3$), by which the panels may be firmly held in place with the portions thereof at the outside of the flanges bearing against the outer faces of the posts and also against the outer faces of the side rails 5(S and wings 20.

The front end pieces 3 forming the compartment for the fuel tank and support.

for the seat are disposed in' parallelism transversely of the platform, upon which 1 their lower edges rest with their upper edges coincident with the upper edges of the side pieces 19 and their ends abutting against the inner faces of said side pieces, to whichlatterthey are rigidly connected by upright angle plates -70 at the four corners of the compartment, said angle plates being secured to the inner faces of the sides 19 and cross pieces -3- by bolts 71.

A seat supporting frame -72 is suitably secured to the upper edges of the cross pieces 3- between the sides 2 and is provided with a hinge section 73 to permit access to the interior of the compartment when the seat, as -74, is removed, said, seat being provided with a swinging back section -75- which may be folded down upon the cushion, as indicated by dotted lines, when desired.

The side boards 19- of the box are also reinforced by metal plates -2fi' similar to the extensions -2.") of the brackets '21, except that they terminate at the upper edges of said side pieces instead of being extended across the upper edges thereof. V

]t is now clear from the foregoing description that the entire top as a unit maybe removed by simply removing the bolts -53- and lifting the top upwardly from the upupwardly and displaced from the wings,

leaving the box and seat securely fastened end pieces --3- by removing the bolts 71 in addition to the removal of the By making the several parts of the body in separate units as described extends the range of usefulness of the same body and at the same time enables the units to be packed. shipped or'stored in a knock-down condition within a comparatively small compact space.

Vihat I claim is:

1. In a vehicle body, the combination of a platform, vertically disposed side boards abutting against the longitudinal edges of the platform and provided with flanged members engaging the upper and lower faces of said edges and bolted thereto, said side boards being provided with wings inclining upwardly and outwardly, from their upper edges, and braces having portions thereof interposed between the meeting edges of the 'faces of the side boards and terminating in flanges bolted to the upper faces of the adjacent edges of the'platform, the intermediate portions of said strips being extended across and between'the meeting edges of the side pieces and wings, and their upper portions secured to the outer faces of the wings.

3. In a vehicle body of the character described, the combination of a platform, side boards abutting against the opposite longitudinal edges of the platform, wings inclining upwardly and outwardly from the upper edges of the side boards, and braces extending across and between the meeting edges of the wings and side boards and having their upper portions bolted to the outer faces of the wings and their lower portions bolted to the inner faces of the side boards and provided with inwardly rejecting flanges bolted to the upper faces 0 the adj acent edges of the platform.

I 4. In a vehicle body of the character described, the combination of a platform, side boards abutting against the opposite longitudinal edges of the platform, Wings inclining upwardly and outwardly from the upper edges of the side boards, and braces extending across and between the meeting edges of the wings and side boards and having their upper portions bolted to the outer faces of the Whigs and their lower portions bolted to the inner faces of the side boards and prrwided with inwardly projecting flanges bolted to the upper faces of the adjacent edges of the platform, the upper portions of the braces being returned downwardly at the outer sides of the side boards and bolted thereto.

5. Ina vehicle body of the character described, the combination. of a platform, side boards abutting against the longitudinal edges of the platform and provided with flanged members engaging the upper and lower faces of said edges and bolted thereto,

site side pieces having their ertedQbetWeen said spaced members and v bolted'to the side pieces.

In witness whereof I have-hereunto set my hand this 4th day of October, 1915. FRANCIS G. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

HOWARD L. TILDEN, J N0. A. BYRNES. 

